Core Viewpoint - Amazon has experienced a decline in stock performance since the beginning of 2025, despite significant growth in revenue and earnings, indicating a drop in its market valuation [1][4][6]. Company Performance - Amazon's stock has decreased by approximately 7% since 2025, while its revenue and earnings have shown substantial increases [4]. - In Q4, Amazon reported a 14% year-over-year increase in overall sales, surpassing the 12% growth from the previous year's Q4 [9]. - AWS, Amazon's cloud computing platform, grew at a remarkable pace of 24% during Q4, marking the fastest growth rate in 13 quarters [10]. Valuation and Market Sentiment - Amazon's current trading valuation is at 26.5 times forward earnings, aligning with the valuation range of other major tech stocks, down from over 30 times previously [8]. - The market appears less willing to pay a premium for Amazon's stock compared to prior years, reflecting a shift in investor sentiment [6]. Future Outlook - The growth of AWS is crucial for Amazon's future, particularly in the context of AI development, as it provides essential computing power for AI models [9][10]. - Amazon plans to invest $200 billion in capital expenditures during 2026, primarily for data centers, which may impact cash flows but is seen as a strategic move to meet AI computing demand [12]. - There is optimism that Amazon's stock will recover throughout 2026 if AWS can maintain its growth trajectory [10][13].

Core Viewpoint - The "Magnificent Seven" stocks, including Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Tesla, are approaching attractive valuations compared to their historical prices, with some stocks potentially being undervalued [1][2]. Valuation Analysis - All stocks in the "Magnificent Seven" trade at a premium to the market, but using forward earnings for valuation is more appropriate due to the rapid growth driven by the AI boom [4]. - The valuations of these stocks have converged to a typical range, with Tesla excluded due to its high forward earnings multiple of nearly 200 times [5]. - The focus is on stocks trading between 22 to 24 times forward earnings, specifically Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms, which are considered good bargains [7]. Market Comparison - The S&P 500 trades at approximately 21.8 times forward earnings, indicating that the "Magnificent Seven" stocks are valued similarly to the market average despite their superior growth potential [8]. Individual Stock Insights - **Nvidia**: Currently trading at a low price, with a projected revenue growth of 52% for FY 2027, making it a strong buy opportunity [9]. - **Microsoft**: Experienced a decline post-earnings announcement, despite strong performance and 39% year-over-year growth in its Azure cloud platform, presenting a buying opportunity [11]. - **Meta Platforms**: Trading at 22.2 times forward earnings, it is the cheapest among the group, with expected revenue growth of 25% this year, indicating it is undervalued compared to its growth rate [13].

Core Insights - The article discusses two ETFs, VanEck Short Muni ETF (SMB) and iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB), which provide exposure to fixed-income assets with different focuses [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - SMB tracks short-term tax-exempt municipal bonds, while IGSB focuses on investment-grade U.S. corporate bonds [1] - SMB has an expense ratio of 0.07% and a 1-year return of 1.93%, while IGSB has a lower expense ratio of 0.04% and a higher 1-year return of 2.65% [2] - IGSB has a significantly larger AUM of $22.37 billion compared to SMB's $303.14 million [2] Group 2: Performance Metrics - Over the past five years, SMB experienced a max drawdown of -7.44%, while IGSB had a max drawdown of -9.44% [3] - The growth of $1,000 over five years is nearly identical, with SMB growing to $958 and IGSB to $960 [3] Group 3: Portfolio Composition - IGSB holds 4,532 bonds, primarily A- and BBB-rated, with significant positions in companies like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America [4] - SMB has a more concentrated portfolio with 334 municipal bonds, predominantly in the AA class, with 22% A-rated and 17% AAA-rated bonds [5] Group 4: Investment Considerations - Investors must consider volatility preferences, as corporate bonds (IGSB) are generally more vulnerable to default and volatility compared to municipal bonds (SMB) [6] - Municipal bonds are less risky but typically offer slower returns, with SMB having a higher allocation towards higher-rated bonds, reducing default risk [7] - Despite slower price growth, the high dividend yields of these ETFs can make them attractive investments [8]

Core Viewpoint - The release of Anthropic's Claude Cowork tools has negatively impacted the stock market, particularly affecting software companies and AI competitors, but some investors see this as a buying opportunity for Alphabet shares [1][2]. Group 1: Market Impact - Anthropic's Claude Cowork, featuring industry-specific plugins, caused a significant market reaction, leading to declines in stocks of software companies like Salesforce, Intuit, and Atlassian, which are down 27.9%, 33%, and 41.6% year-to-date, respectively [4]. - Alphabet's shares dropped over 6% following the announcement of Claude Cowork, reflecting investor anxiety despite Alphabet not being directly impacted by the specific software offerings [5]. Group 2: Alphabet's Position - Alphabet, with a market cap of $3.7 trillion, has a strong presence in the AI sector, recently launching its own LLM, Gemini 3, which has shown improvements over competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT [7]. - The rollout of Gemini 3 has resulted in a significant increase in paid subscribers, indicating potential customer shifts from ChatGPT to Gemini, raising concerns that Claude Cowork could attract these subscribers away from Alphabet [7]. Group 3: Investment Opportunities - Notable investors, including Warren Buffett, have taken positions in Alphabet, suggesting confidence in the company's long-term prospects despite recent stock price declines [10]. - Cathie Wood's Ark Invest purchased $21.6 million in Alphabet shares, indicating a strategic move to capitalize on the current dip in stock price [11].

Core Insights - Maximizing Social Security benefits is crucial for retirees, as it serves as the primary income source for many households aged 65 and older [1][2] Claiming Strategy - The optimal age to claim Social Security benefits is influenced by life expectancy projections, with the CDC providing updated data to guide retirees [2][10] - Claiming Social Security at age 62 results in lower monthly benefits compared to waiting until full retirement age [4][5] - The Social Security Administration calculates benefits based on the primary insurance amount, which varies depending on the retiree's birth year [5][6] Break-even Analysis - The break-even age is the age at which delaying benefits results in higher lifetime benefits; for those claiming at full retirement age versus age 62, this age is approximately 78 years and 8 months [8][9] - Delaying benefits until age 70 can significantly increase monthly payments, with a break-even age of about 85 and a half years for that decision [11] Life Expectancy Data - The latest CDC data indicates that a 65-year-old can expect to live an average of 19.7 more years, suggesting that delaying benefits may be advantageous [10][13] - Life expectancy varies by gender and ethnicity, with women and certain ethnic groups generally living longer than average [13][14] Considerations for Claiming - High earners may benefit from delaying benefits until age 70, especially if their spouse is younger, as survivor benefits are based on the higher earner's amount [15] - Individuals with chronic health issues or those needing immediate income may consider claiming benefits earlier [17] - Lower-earning spouses might find it beneficial to claim benefits as soon as possible, while the higher earner delays until age 70 to maximize household benefits [18][19]

Core Insights - The VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) provide investors with direct exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum respectively, while mitigating some risks associated with holding cryptocurrencies directly [2][5] Group 1: Cost and Size - Both HODL and ETHA have an expense ratio of 0.25% [3] - As of February 14, 2026, HODL has a one-year return of -29.18% and ETHA has a return of -23.90% [3] - HODL has assets under management (AUM) of $1.1 billion, while ETHA has AUM of $6.29 billion, indicating a significant difference in scale [3] Group 2: Performance and Risk Comparison - HODL experienced a maximum drawdown of -49.25% over one year, while ETHA had a higher drawdown of -61.57% [4] Group 3: Fund Composition and Market Context - HODL, launched on January 4, 2024, exclusively holds Bitcoin, while ETHA, launched six months later, exclusively holds Ether [5] - Both funds are characterized by high volatility and have faced negative returns in 2025, marking the first annual decline since 2022 [6] - HODL has increased nearly 40% since its inception, whereas ETHA has decreased by 41%, suggesting a potential advantage for HODL in the long term [8]

Core Insights - eBay is transitioning from a traditional marketplace to a high-margin advertising platform, indicating a shift in its business model and market perception [1][7] - The upcoming quarterly results are expected to show earnings per share of approximately $1.35 and revenue around $2.87 billion, reflecting continued growth despite economic challenges [2][3] Financial Performance - In the most recent quarter, eBay's revenue increased by about 9% year over year, while gross merchandise volume (GMV) rose by 8%, demonstrating resilience in its marketplace operations [3] - Advertising revenue reached $525 million in the third quarter, accounting for 2.6% of GMV, highlighting the rapid growth of eBay's advertising business [5] Business Model Evolution - eBay's advertising segment is growing faster than its core business, which enhances the quality of its earnings as it does not rely on inventory or shipping [5][7] - The company is evolving into a monetization platform that leverages AI-driven tools and promoted listings to maximize transaction value [7] Investment Considerations - The stock is viewed as a long-term investment opportunity rather than a short-term trade, with consistent share buybacks and dividends contributing to its appeal as a cash-generating platform [8] - Potential investors are advised to consider buying eBay only if they are prepared to hold for years, focusing on the long-term impact of its advertising and platform shift [10]

Core Insights - Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced negative returns in 2025, but investor optimism for long-term growth remains strong [1][6] - The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) provide direct exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum, respectively, and are compared based on fees, returns, risk, and portfolio composition [2] Group 1: Cost & Size - Both IBIT and ETHA have an expense ratio of 0.25% and are equally priced [3] - As of February 14, 2026, IBIT has an AUM of $51.53 billion, while ETHA has an AUM of $6.29 billion, indicating a significant difference in scale [3] Group 2: Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past year, IBIT had a return of -29.35% and ETHA had a return of -23.90% [3] - The maximum drawdown for IBIT was -49.36%, while ETHA experienced a larger drawdown of -61.57% [4] - A $1,000 investment in IBIT would have grown to $720, while the same investment in ETHA would have grown to $753 over one year [4] Group 3: Fund Composition - IBIT, launched on January 5, 2024, exclusively holds Bitcoin, while ETHA, launched six months later, exclusively holds Ether [5] - Both funds are characterized by high volatility and provide direct exposure to the cryptocurrency market [5] Group 4: Market Context - The negative performance of Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2025 marks the first annual decline since 2022, highlighting the volatility of the crypto market [6] - Despite ongoing investments from governments and institutions in the crypto space, the market is expected to experience fluctuations similar to the stock market [6] Group 5: Long-term Outlook - Historically, IBIT has increased nearly 40%, while ETHA has decreased by 41%, suggesting a potential advantage for IBIT in the long term [8] - IBIT is associated with a cryptocurrency that has greater institutional and governmental support compared to Ethereum [8]

Core Viewpoint - Coupang's stock is currently undervalued, presenting a potential long-term investment opportunity despite recent challenges related to a data breach [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Data - Coupang's stock has decreased by 26% over the past year, currently trading at $16.99 with a market capitalization of $31 billion [2][3]. - The stock's 52-week range is between $16.74 and $34.08, with a gross margin of 29.62% [3]. Group 2: Data Breach and Company Response - A data breach exposed information from approximately 34 million accounts, leading to government inquiries and criticism of management practices [3][4]. - The South Korean government attributes the breach to "management failure" rather than a sophisticated cyberattack, and the CEO's absence from a parliamentary hearing has exacerbated the situation [3][4]. Group 3: Business Performance and Growth Potential - Despite the data breach, Coupang's business in South Korea is performing well, with net revenue growth of 20% year-over-year and a 10% increase in active customers [5]. - The company aims to achieve an adjusted EBITDA margin of 10% or more, with potential revenue growth reaching $40 billion to $50 billion in the coming years, particularly with new ventures in Taiwan [7][8]. Group 4: Investment Valuation - With a market cap of $32 billion and projected earnings, Coupang's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 6.4, indicating a favorable valuation for long-term investors [9].

Core Insights - Gold and silver are significant precious metals, with the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) tracking physical silver prices and the Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) investing in gold mining stocks [1] Cost & Size - Both SLV and SGDM have an expense ratio of 0.50% - SLV has an AUM of $44.77 billion, while SGDM has $823.11 million [2] - The one-year return for SLV is 137.63%, and for SGDM, it is 149.88% [2][3] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over five years, SLV has a max drawdown of 37.65%, while SGDM has 45.05% [4] - A $1,000 investment in SLV would grow to $2,764, compared to $2,667 for SGDM over the same period [4] Holdings - SGDM, launched 11 years ago, invests in 43 gold mining stocks, with major holdings including Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., Newmont Corp., and Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. [5] - SLV has been offering exposure to silver for nearly 20 years, holding 100% silver bullion in London [5] Market Context - The current economic climate favors precious metals, as they typically perform better during periods of economic uncertainty, with tariffs and global tensions benefiting gold and silver in 2025 and into 2026 [8] Investment Strategy - Both SLV and SGDM can diversify a portfolio with precious metal-related funds, with the choice depending on investor preference for silver or gold and physical assets versus market-related stocks [9]